Kees' photos

Ludwig I wanted to turn Munich into Athens, his successors preferred a neo-gothic style.

Cold and windy, but good enough for taking a prolonged walk and some pictures...

One of the last pimped lions remaining in Munich, not a very elaborate one, alas. It was sponsored by (guess?) an Italian restaurant.

On the left is my grandfather-in-law who rode bikes all his life, on the right a new Yamaha Majesty 400 with its proud owner posing. Some progress in design and technique is apparent, though one might argue that much of the charm of the early bikes is lost.

We must have many blindworms in our garden, but they are even shyer than their close relatives, the legged lizards, so I was lucky to get this one before my camera. It could easily be mistaken for a snake, but when you look into its eye it’s clear it means no harm.

After saying hello, our blindworm took its leave and hastily disappeared between the shrubs. I must say I’m not too keen on meeting them regularly: their similarity with snakes makes them a bit weird, in my eyes, especially when they’re as big as this one: at least 30cm/12".

Gilded Saints from their less attractive side.

From the inside, it is even uglier. No need for curtains anymore...

This is ugly. I'll be glad when the house is sold.

To us, the whole scene very much represents Leiden; others may just recognize the Renaissance front of the Town Hall.

This is where we lived from October 1976 to August 1981, a small house from around 1700, in the very center of the town. A narrow business: if I remember well, it was nowhere wider than 2.75m, but we had four rooms (two of them heated), and half of the attic. A happy period. We came to Leiden to visit an old friend; it was very cold, and I had difficulty to convince my company that this detour was necessary.

Scale model of the Jaguar 3.4 l, just 6.5cm long, around 1962, and early in the best Matchbox period. Shortly afterward, the opaque windows were replaced by transparent ones and interiors were added. Here, the hood could be opened. I owned one when I was a kid, but it has disappeared, and this is a less perfect replacement. I used to love Matchbox, and I still love the car which I think is among the most beautiful ever built.

The EXIF data don’t lie: this is our Christmas tree as of today. It must be quite nice (or so I’m told), if not as festive as Nigel’s. Fact is: we have found a stand to put it in, but nothing else. No lights, no balls, no nothing. Still, they have to be somewhere... Our first Christmas in our own home since 18 years –the basics are sound, but the execution is open to improvement.

I take many pictures which I say are of a sunrise, but you’ll rarely see the sun rise. For those who can’t believe my words: here, a full-frontal of the sun. (They say photographers should have the sun from behind, but that’s something I can’t believe.) Don’t worry: in all probability, the black dots aren’t bad pixels in your LCD screen, they are birds fleeing from the chilly fog.

A panoramic view of the Alps, as seen from our balcony. The past few days, the “Föhn” wind shared some marvelous mountain views with us.

This time of year, the sun and I rise almost simultaneously, and that results sometimes in me taking some air on the balcony.

Another early morning shot. Here the mist is still below us, but often it ascends and covers our house when the sun gets warmer. Views like this never last long.