maandag 31 januari 2011
The Siege of Tilburg: This is the world we live in
The Siege of Tilburg: This is the world we live in: "Days of heavy shootings or uncertain silences. In addition, Frank takes care for his children and provides assistance as a nurse in the Elis..."
This is the world we live in
Days of heavy shootings or uncertain silences. In addition, Frank takes care for his children and provides assistance as a nurse in the Elisabeth Hospital or wherever he can. This is the daily reality for Frank living in the Voltstraat. If conditions permit, he takes his children to the parking lot behind the apartment complex where he lives. If only for 5 minutes, breathe some fresh (er) air, before they have to go inside again. From the window in their apartment they can see the smoke from several locations. Different every day.
"Since the beginning of the war, life is a chaotic existence. We’re still lucky that on the ground floor there is a valve where water still comes out. In the morning you’ll stand in line, maybe you can trade some food between residents, and you go back up to bake a loaf of bread of the little flour that’s have left. The only constant thing in our lives, is the news we hear on the radio (http://the-siege-of-tilburg-english.blogspot.com/2011/01/it-will-remain-dry-today.html?spref=bl). "
During the fighting in Zuid (South), his apartment was taken and occupied by Burgertroepen, and later after the they had left it was taken by The Military. These are the many problems that everyone in Tilburg has. Large-scale destruction and blockades, not enough material to do repairs, and not even speaking about looting.
"They really didn’t left anything undamaged! I acquired two doors via smugglers. And for the broken windows, I improvised that with various materials. In any case if you trade with smugglers, anything is horribly expensive. And for what you ordered, you have to wait weeks, if not months. The cold is mostly uncomfortable for my children. The only thing I really want and nothing more is a bed for my kids, but there is no way you can get one so they have a mattress to sleep on the floor. The UN handed out blankets, but a blanket is not enough! And so, I am worried about their health. "
For two weeks he had left his apartment because of fighting and the occupation by Burgertroepen and later by The Military. Because of Frank’s job as a nurse, they could get shelter in a room in the Elisabeth Hospital, and in the meantime do his job.
"During those battles it was like a madhouse. At a certain point the hospital was over capacity and we had to go to friends. Sometimes you just don’t go out. On the streets you feel constantly threatened, as well in Zuid, the center or West, it doesn’t matter! You're just not sure of your life! But ’it's the world we live in’, we live from day to day."
"Since the beginning of the war, life is a chaotic existence. We’re still lucky that on the ground floor there is a valve where water still comes out. In the morning you’ll stand in line, maybe you can trade some food between residents, and you go back up to bake a loaf of bread of the little flour that’s have left. The only constant thing in our lives, is the news we hear on the radio (http://the-siege-of-tilburg-english.blogspot.com/2011/01/it-will-remain-dry-today.html?spref=bl). "
During the fighting in Zuid (South), his apartment was taken and occupied by Burgertroepen, and later after the they had left it was taken by The Military. These are the many problems that everyone in Tilburg has. Large-scale destruction and blockades, not enough material to do repairs, and not even speaking about looting.
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| Destruction in the Voltstraat after the battles in Zuid |
For two weeks he had left his apartment because of fighting and the occupation by Burgertroepen and later by The Military. Because of Frank’s job as a nurse, they could get shelter in a room in the Elisabeth Hospital, and in the meantime do his job.
"During those battles it was like a madhouse. At a certain point the hospital was over capacity and we had to go to friends. Sometimes you just don’t go out. On the streets you feel constantly threatened, as well in Zuid, the center or West, it doesn’t matter! You're just not sure of your life! But ’it's the world we live in’, we live from day to day."
donderdag 20 januari 2011
The Siege of Tilburg: It will remain dry today!
The Siege of Tilburg: It will remain dry today!: "This morning the announcer of the regional emergency broadcast (why they still call it that I can’t understand!) had the following announcem..."
It will remain dry today!
This morning the announcer of the regional emergency broadcast (why they still call it that I can’t understand!) had the following announcement: "Again a quiet day. A few grenades hit the Piushaven and a number of houses destroyed. The houses were empty so no-one was killed. Although it’s quiet, leave your house only in urgent need. The outside temperature is pleasant and it will remain dry the rest of the day. "
It keeps going on like this the whole month...
What is there to say after a long time about Tilburg? Nothing. Boring. Anyone who want to know, follow the news and already knows. And if one wants to ignore it, then they do and they will not to be disturbed. The residents are worrying less and less. It’s the way it is. It is impossible to predict like the structure of a song that’s build-up logically with verses and choruses. Try to write a ballad about Tilburg and the war. Perhaps when it all ends we can find a logical structure.
But no one is really worrying. They better don’t, otherwise you will not think of the small things that are indispensable, and were once so obvious: How do you make light? Where do you even find light? Who’s got food to trade? In trade for what? Leo two houses away, traded two eggs and a loaf of bread for some AA batteries yesterday (probably I could have made a fortune with the batteries). He had to get rid of them, I think, because other residents were keeping a constant watch on him for days. I'm curious what would have happened if they had known of my batteries!
At Leo’s, they're probably a listening to the radio now! Very important! That way Tilburg and its residents keep being informed. Otherwise we totally missed that the outside temperature was pleasant and it remained dry all day!
It keeps going on like this the whole month...
What is there to say after a long time about Tilburg? Nothing. Boring. Anyone who want to know, follow the news and already knows. And if one wants to ignore it, then they do and they will not to be disturbed. The residents are worrying less and less. It’s the way it is. It is impossible to predict like the structure of a song that’s build-up logically with verses and choruses. Try to write a ballad about Tilburg and the war. Perhaps when it all ends we can find a logical structure.
But no one is really worrying. They better don’t, otherwise you will not think of the small things that are indispensable, and were once so obvious: How do you make light? Where do you even find light? Who’s got food to trade? In trade for what? Leo two houses away, traded two eggs and a loaf of bread for some AA batteries yesterday (probably I could have made a fortune with the batteries). He had to get rid of them, I think, because other residents were keeping a constant watch on him for days. I'm curious what would have happened if they had known of my batteries!
At Leo’s, they're probably a listening to the radio now! Very important! That way Tilburg and its residents keep being informed. Otherwise we totally missed that the outside temperature was pleasant and it remained dry all day!
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| The Piushaven, from the Hopliedenkade |
zaterdag 1 januari 2011
The Siege of Tilburg: Best Wishes for the new year!
The Siege of Tilburg: Best Wishes for the new year!: "Best wishes for the new year! Good health, tolerance and especially less misery."
Best Wishes for the new year!
Best wishes for the new year! Good health, tolerance and especially less misery.
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