Transcription
Mr ans mrs Stuart Cook
"Lower Farm House"
Hambledon GU 84 HE
Engeland
Amsterdam, 10th December 1999
Dear Ursula & Stuart,
I had often thought that hibernation would be a godsend for the HUMAN species.
We would start in November and wake up in April.
Would you mind missing Christmas." What about New Year's Eve?
It's 3 p.m. and I've already turned on the lamp. Eleven more days before daylight begins to lengthen our days.
Modern (civilized?) man has eradicated his seasonal pattern of life. Electricity defies the darkness of nature. Producing, performing and growing are the buzzwords. All this can be achieved thanks to electricity.
There is also another method to banish darkness. You can light a candle. It represents “togetherness” rather than efficiency. The return of light, new hope, newborn babies in one word: "Christmas." Wishing you both and the boys a Merry Christmas and good health for the coming year.
Floris and Reinoud will be with us on Christmas Eve. Last year Vera's mother was also our guest. We will miss her. My parents (84 and 82) are looked after by both my brothers during the holidays.
For the time being, we will stay at home during New Year's Eve, as none of the then royal families have invited us. (Neither the Hanovers, nor the House of Orange, nor the Grimaldis).
To change the subject.
When Charles of Wales attended the ecclesiastical ceremony of the Belgian Crown Prince, he wore a simple morning coat instead of the fancy elaborate uniform worn by other Crown Princes.
Why do they want to wear all those decorations without having done anything heroic anyway? They look like Carnival princes.
I know, I differ on the EU topic, so I have to attach two clippings from the AMERICAIN Int Herald Trib.
Don't avoid politics towards the EU
Love also from Vera and I will write again next year.
I
I
