22 oct

Met Ilian today. Ilian, EEEEEE-LL-EEEEE-AAAAAANNNN, in the voice of his little sister, and Jana, the sister, are staying at our campground. They are 3 and 2, or 4 and 3 I suppose, or 4 and 2. They are Dutch. Ilian came to see me this morning after I took my shower (hot, good water pressure, and not a push thing, so a pleasurable experience) on his little bike that he uses to race around the campground, his version of the Tour de France.
What’s your name, he asked. I am Joost I said, in dutch. Oh, I am Ilian, this is my sister Jana, and we are here with my parents. Ah, what are their names I asked. They are called papa and mama, he said. In the evening, while doing dishes, he came again to have a chat. He had forgotten my name and informed me now that their last name is Schuitema.
It is fun to see small children again after all these numerous retired people, including ourselves (semi-retired), that fill up campgrounds after the schoolyear has begun. Later I had a little chat with Jana. Most of the day she has been running after her older brother, including the scream that Julie can imitate very well. She is round faced, with boundless energy, and jolly red boots and comes to inform me that they had little lobsters (probably shrimps) this evening. From the barbeque, Ilian adds when he has returned from another Tour de Camping. Jana’s dad comes to inform that it is time for a shower. Jana tells she’s busy right now with this ‘meneer’ (gentleman), but since the shower is a prerequisite for her “afters” (chocolate pudding!) she quickly follows her dad.
We went to see some Romanesque frescoes at different churches in the area. Including the ones at Saint Savin, of Unesco world fame. Before we went to this church, we went to Avigny, with some lovely frescoes, probably redone over time. I wonder who can not be delighted by the view of the little shepherds getting the message that the Messiah is born. Which made me think: Is there a similar song in English to the most lovely Dutch Christmas song

De herdertjes lagen bij nachte The shepherds were watching at night
Zij lagen bij nacht in het veld They were staying in their field
Zij hielden vol trouwe de wachte They were watching full of trustfulness
Zij hadden hun schaapjes geteld They had counted their sheep

Daar hoorden zij engelen zingen There they heard angels sing
Hun liederen vloeiend en klaar 
 Their songs fluent and clear
De herders naar Bethlehem gingen 
 The shpeherds went to Bethlehem then
‘t liep tegen het nieuwe jaar I was almost a new year

… (And then one and one)

It is a lovely song. And a lovely thought. About innocent people that are being rightful, and full of trust. Like Ilian and Jana, they are todays shepherds, like all children are. Why do these people, in the adult world, turn out to be followers of Wilders (Netherlands), Farrage (England) or Palin (US), I wonder. Although they (we) are as easily to hand in the one ridiculous easy solution to worlds problems to the second.

Here we are, back in the twelfth century, our journey. Small kids talking small talk. But our minds focused on the things that ultimately matter. The star from the shepherds is still guiding us, that is what I like to think. Or still fooling us, as the sceptic other I suggests. Who can say?