Vote with your heart - End the Veto

Just a few more days and the people of Northern Ireland are able to vote again, but I am hoping they are willing to chose for a better option than just sticking to your own groups like everyone always does because you don't care about the 'other side'.

Let me put it in another way.

For some the day they get married is one of the happiest in their lives. Some even dream about it when they are a child. But in Northern Ireland you are only allowed to marry if you are heterosexual. Now that is a slap in the face for homosexuals. No happiest day in your life for you because some people think you are an abomination. 

To be honest I don't mind religion if it gives you as a person guidance, comfort and peace in your life. But if you are trying to dictate life for others in the name of said religion, you have a problem with me. Because I believe all men are equal no matter what race or sexual orientation.

You don't have to worry, same sex couples won't invite you to their wedding night or have sex in the parks to shock your little wee ones. If you are disgusted with them showing openly affection then all affection no matter of your sexual preference should be abolished like holding hands or kissing in public. If one group can't have it, no one should. Have you thought about that?

The petition of concern was called into life to protect the rights of minorities but the DUP abuses this right by using the loophole to throw the rights of our homosexual friends out of the window. And for me that is abuse of power, which is not good if you claim to be a just government. One of the reasons why I think they are doing it, is to block Sinn Féin. Because we don't want to work together, even though the Good Friday agreement tells us too. So we are going to oppose them or any other political party every step of the way. To me they sound like a bunch of pre-school kids fighting over who gets the biggest piece of cake...so pathetic. In gamer terms it would be who has the biggest E-penis and they are waving it in everyone's face to show theirs is the biggest E-dick on earth.

I've heard their excuses over why they keep vetoing it.

It mocks the sanctity of the marriage. 

Divorce and adultery also mocks the sanctity of the marriage if you want to follow the Bible to the letter. But that happens, and no one has strung up their spouse at the town hall and stoned them to death now have they? You didn't go out and burn Robinson's wife on a stake when she was having a bit of fun time with her young leaf, now did you?

We are not the only political party that is against it.

No, that is correct but you are the political party who is abusing the veto, which came in power to protect minorities which you now use to discriminate against minorities. That is so unchristian in my book. Because you promote exclusion and discrimination and if there is a thing like heaven you won't get in it.

Other countries don't allow it.

But we aren't other countries, we are Northern Ireland, part of the continent Europe. Other countries allow girls to be wed at 12 or stone people for adultery. You want to be like them? Other heavily religious countries allow same sex marriages, because they saw that they had to move with the times and couldn't keep excluding part of their population. Making them feel alienated.

I was taught not to hate people, even if they don't share my views. But I am ashamed for the state this country is in, with people hiding behind ancient texts just so they can deny other people their happiness. Because that is what it is all about, happiness. Don't you want a person to be happy on their special day? It could be your daughter, son or relative that is denied the right to be happy and form the bond with their partner just like you were able to.

Have compassion and end the veto.

I love YoggieBerrie

Photo: Belfast Live

I must say I am ashamed that I haven't visited this place before, I already live for more than a year in North Belfast. 

Once a month it is recycle day for me. As we don't have many bins at the house I have to take my recyclables up to Alexandra Recycle Centre. So as a treat I decided to go to YoggieBerrie. I've cycled passed them countless of times on my way to Cave Hill but never stopped and tried their delicious treats.

So today was the day. When walking up to the store I noticed that they have bubble tea and I have been dying to get my hands on one since I moved away from the Netherlands. But today is froyo day so bubble tea will be on my list for next time.

The design of the store is absolutely smashing. The bear is their mascot and hats off to the designer because it made me want to get a T-shirt. Sadly I didn't see the totes they have on their website, but I will ask next time if they will be stocked again. Because I love totes.

The girl is super nice, I didn't ask for her name but she explained to me what they have on offer and how the froyos work. Basically you can pick your flavour, even a combo of flavours and then chose your toppings. Then your treat is weighed and you pay for it. Pretty simple. 

They have several froyo flavours like Chocolate & Cream, Marshmallows, Bubblegum, Watermelon, etc. but I went with plain Yoghurt because I want to savour the flavours of the toppings. The toppings are various sorts of chocolates, nuts, smarties, Haribo sweets, seasonal fruit and of course bubble tea bubbles. I didn't try the tea bubbles, a bit sad about that but I'll be back. 

My combo for today was plain yoghurt with grapes, raspberries, different chocolaty toppings and nuts. The combo was delish and I wished I bought a bigger tub. ;) All and all a great experience.

They do different coffees, cakes, smoothies, milkshakes, ice creams and did I mention bubble tea already? ;P The smoothies have a veggie version next to the popular fruit version so everybody can have their fill.

I've become an insta-fan today and if any of my local friends or visiting friends want to go I am game. 

Check them out on their website, Facebook and Twitter and don't forget to download the loyalty app which give you a free one after a few visits!

http://www.yoggieberrie.com/

https://www.facebook.com/YoggieBerrie/?fref=ts

https://twitter.com/yoggieberrie

551 Antrim Road

Belfast BT15 3BU

Movie blog: Under Sandet : Land of Mine

When the booklet of the Belfast Film Festival came out, this movie caught my eye. We all know our WW2 movies about the heroic liberation of Europe but not many movies are made about the aftermath of the war. But it is 71 years since the end of WW2 and more of these types of movies are popping up.

I was happy that a movie like Der Untergang was made in 2004. We all know what great evil Hitler was and he did turn on his own people when they started to rebel or just plainly disobey orders. Even before the Nazi regime took hold of the world, Germans had questioned his intentions but were met with violence and murder. When I watched a documentary about the roll of Russians and British soldiers marching in Germany at the end of the war, I was disgusted. Pillaging and rape occurred under the German population just because they were German, they were bad and they deserved it in the words of a British veteran. Committing such crimes make you no better than the Nazi regime, still don't understand why people justify these crimes instead of condemning them. And it never stopped because we do hear of events in current war torn regions where soldiers abuse their power of protection to hurt others intentionally.

Under Sandet (Land of Mine) is a movie about such events after the war. You follow 14 young prisoners of war that have to clean up 45.000 of the 2 million mines left by the Nazi occupation on the Danish coast. 

Great role by Roland Møller as Sgt. Carl Rasmussen who is in charge of this group in deactivating the mines. He is torn by his anger and hatred for the occupation and caring about the fate of these young boys. What was gripping is that these soldiers couldn't have been older than 19. And the books have taught us that even though some joined the army voluntary, a lot of young boys have been pressured or just taking in army service.

At times the movie tensions ran very high because you only hear the rolling of the sea and the squawking of seagulls when a mine goes off taking his unlucky dismantler with him. I was sitting on the edge of my seat when you see the shaking hands of the boy trying to get the pin out, known it could be the last thing he'd ever do.

When you hear a young boy scream for his mother when his arms are blown off because he made a mistake, you realise this is a gruesome reality and just hope the kid dies soon to end his suffering. 

All the actors who played the boys are excellent performers at such a young age. I hope to see them more in the future. Movies like this show us what happened after the war, that not even the allied forces worked without sin. The mistakes made in the past should teach us to be more cautious in the future. And empathy has no bounds not even between enemies. 

The Great Shore Road Bake Off

As a Dutch person I am spoiled. In what way you ask. Well we have so many great variates in bread only the Germans beat us in bread baking.

My second year anniversary is coming up next month, living in Belfast and a person can only stand so much toast in a lifetime before losing her sanity. The Ulster fry is great but the be honest your bread tastes like shit. I tried buying at the local bakeries and the problem with that bread that it needs to be consumed the day it was baked, the next day it is a dry piece of brick with no flavour and can be used to commit the perfect homicide. 

So I decided to make my own bread, because eating cereal, porridge and toast will drive me nuts if I want to live here longer.

Asda offers a wholemeal bread mix that only has you add warm water. First time baking so it is a trial and error process. 

One bag of mix needs 350ml of warm water, which was too much in my opinion making the dough extremely sticky. Next time I will try 320ml.

By lack of a loaf tin I used a oiled cookie tray and tried to shape it in a bloomer. 

After covering it with a damp cloth for over 45 minutes, the package suggested 30 but I ended up finishing my mission on Destiny. ;) It became twice the size and it was ready for the oven. As my oven is the oven from the hellmouth it is hard to get the temperature right. I turned it down a few degrees to make sure it didn't burn the loaf.

After 30 minutes this UFO was the result. The crust is nice and crusty and the smell is not bad, a tangy sour like wholemeal needs to be.

As the dough was a little too wet, the structure of the bread is a bit sticky, not as dry like store bought. I do not have a bread oven so I am not complaining.

Just a smudge of butter and good old Gouda cheese from Lidl (not that cheddar shit, that stuff is like plastic). And I am quite satisfied with my first loaf of wholemeal bread. The mix was good, just don't follow the instructions to the letter or you will end up with a slightly wet dough. 

Taste I give it a 3 out of 5 because it is too wet. Crust is awesome though. Overall waaaaaay better than toast. 

I am going to attempt to use different types of flour to find the one I like the best. Next up will be Tesco or Marks & Spencer.

'A good baker will rise to the occasion, it's the yeast he can do.'

Adventures of Moof: Divis and the Black Mountain

I needed some fresh air after a stuffy week inside so I decided to take Moof out for a hike to Divis and the Black Mountain near Hannahtown, Northern Ireland. It was a rare lovely day after a week of rain and grey sky so it was a real treat. It was very windy, which helped me clear my mind. 

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/divis-and-black-mountain/

Moof up a Fairy Tree

We decided to take the Lough and Heath trails.

 Free roaming horsies & cows, awesome!

 Beauty!

 Baby cows!

 Took a break and enjoyed the sunshine. :)

After the hike we deserved some tea and scones.

It has been a year already - MH17

I recall myself saying five years after 9/11 why Americans are still able to weep for the lives lost that day.

Now I feel myself in the same situation. It's been exactly a year after a passenger plane had been shot down about the Ukraine, 298 lives lost in one split second. I had no personal bond with the victims, just a woman that worked at the University I had attended and talked to the past, others people lost loved ones and coworkers. People they shared a closer bond with.

But seeing all the flags fly half-staff in the Netherlands has giving me a gut wrenching feeling again. It's been a year but for some the pain is still fresh. It's been a year and no one has taken responsibility of it.

The official inquiry is out and it was the Pro-Russian fighters who have shot down the plane. Putin does not believe in an International Court, and with this sentiment I feel that he has spat in the faces of the people left behind.

I fear we will never see justice over this. As long as the Netherlands has dependence on Russia or as long as that maniac is in power.

All we can do now is mourn the lives lost and try to give it a place in our lives.

But now I understand what the Americans felt.

Why celebrating the 12th of July is bad for cultural integration in Belfast

I've been living here for almost two years now, so I am entitled to have an opinion about this. You may also disagree with my on my views because I respect your opinion too.

Ik woon hier nu al lang genoeg, bijna twee jaar, dus mag ik er wat over schrijven. Je kunt het niet met me eens zijn en daar respecteer ik je voor.

Each year, on the 12th of July, the loyalists celebrate the victory of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 between William of Orange and the catholic King James II, which was about who will get the English throne but fought on Irish soil. Which is always nice, fighting out your fights in your neighbours backyard. 

Elk jaar, op 12 juli, vieren de loyalisten de overwinning van Willem van Oranje tegen de katholieke Koning James II tijdens de Battle of the Boyne in 1690, met als doel eigendom van de Engelse troon. Het gekke eraan is dat dit gevecht gevoerd was op Iers grondgebied, want dat doe je toch altijd, je ruzies uitvechten in de tuin van je buren?

Let's rewind a little: England used to be Catholic, same as Ireland until Henry the VIII decided to found the Church of England because the pope didn't approve what Henry was demanding about the annulment of his marriage. So yea, Henry changed religion because it didn't fit his own demands, very selfish off him. Luther demanded reformation because he thought the values of religion had deteriorated with the get-out-of-hell-cards you could buy. ;)

Laten we even teruggaan in de geschiedenis: England was katholiek, hetzelfde als Ierland totdat Henry de VIII met het briljant idee kwam om de Church of England te stichten. En de reden was om dat de paus het afkeurde dat Henry zomaar van vrouw wilde veranderen. Dus Henry heeft de hele religie van zijn land omgegooid voor zijn eigen voordeel...Luther heeft ten minste tot reformatie opgeroepen voor het volk omdat hij het niet eens was met het afkopen van je helse schuld. ;)

At one point the catholic James II came into power, which was fine until he produced an heir and then the English had to get rid off him, which meant that they offered the throne to the Protestant William of Orange...say what?! But that is how it goes when it comes to royalty.

Op een gegeven moment kreeg de katholieke James de II de macht en dat werd gedoogt totdat hij een nakomeling kreeg en dat kon niet, dus gaven de Engelsen de kroon aan Willem van Oranje....groot WTF moment voor mij. Maar zo gaat het nu eenmaal bij het koningshuis. 

Back to the Battle of the Boyne: so William of Orange is fighting on Irish soil King James II and wins the battle in 1690. This battle is key for the folklore of the Orange Order.

En weer terug naar de Battle of the Boyne: dus Willem van Oranje vecht tegen koning James de II op Iers grondgebied en wint de veldslag in 1690. Deze veldslag is dus belangrijk voor de Oranje Orde.

I am completely pro-culture as long as it doesn't hurt others. And while the Orangemen think they are in their legal standing, marching through Catholic areas is a big no-no in my book. You are just spewing hate. 

And this year they became even more horrible in sectarian hate, they condemn the actions that have been going around in Belfast and Northern Ireland lately but do not educate their followers enough to see the difference between culture and sectarian division.

I'd like to point out two incidents that left me more disgusted and ashamed. After I moved to Belfast I can no longer wear the colour orange with pride because even though it for me it is only to celebrate Former Queen Beatrix's and King Willem-Alexanders birthdays or that we won the Euro or World Cup, which will never happen unless they replace the German National Team with cripples. 

Ik ben helemaal voor behoud van cultuur, mits het niet anderen schaadt. En terwijl de Oranjemannen denken dat ze in hun recht staan, marcheren door een katholieke wijk is not-done in mijn mening. Ze willen hiermee alleen maar haatzaaien.

En dit jaar lijkt het alleen maar erger dan vorig jaar, gepaard met veel sektrarisch geweld. Ze veroordelen de incidenten in Belfast en Noord-Ierland maar ik vind dat ze deel aan zijn aan dit geweld omdat ze hun volgelingen niet goed onderwijzen op het verschil tussen cultuur en sektarische scheiding. 

Ik zou graag twee incidenten aanwijzen die mij doen walgen en schamen. Sinds dat ik in Belfast woon kan ik de kleur oranje niet meer dragen zonder een bittere nasmaak, terwijl het voor mij alleen symbool voor de viering van onze voormalige koningin Beatrix en huidige koning Willem-Alexander verjaardag of wanneer wij ooit de wereldcup zullen winnen als ze het Duiste team vervangen door kreupelen. 

The Nazi flags in Carrickfergus and Belfast 'Crucify Catholics' graffiti

When you read those two articles, I hope you will feel the same disgust as I did and see how far this sectarian hate has sunk. A lot of loyalists will be surprised when they talk to the Dutch and find out they side with the nationalists and want Northern-Ireland to be returned to the Republic. But after the signing of the Good Friday agreement that will never happen and brought finally a form of peace in Northern-Ireland. Fortunately only a small percentage is for refueling the battle. 

Wanneer je deze twee artikelen leest, hoop ik dat je hetzelfde misselijke gevoel als ik had en eindelijk snapt hoe ver de sektarische haat gezonken is. Veel loyalisten zullen verrast zijn als je horen dat veel Nederlanders vinden dat Noord-Ierland terug moet naar de Republiek. Dit gaat gelukkig niet gebeuren want met het sluiten van het Goede Vrijdag akkoord is er eindelijk een vorm van vrede voor de Noord-Ieren. Gelukkig is maar een klein percentage bereid om de strijdbijl weer op te graven.