Chateau Meiland, The aftertalk
I hop in these corona times from NOS news to RTL News and to Jinek because I suffer from a difficult-to-satisfy hunger for news. I wouldn't want to call Chateau Meiland my hope in fearful days, but rather my sun in dark times. Since the alarm clock doesn't go off at half past six (because: nowhere to go and the dressing criteria are just a bit more flexible with homeschooling), all the girls can watch on the couch. Because we all like Martien, Maxime, and Erica. Yesterday was bingo again because what a delightful broadcast we were served. Where it normally tends to be a bit of pushing and shoving towards a somewhat exciting storyline, there was a real fire at the chateau yesterday.
At first, I thought it was staged because Martien and Maxime were fiddling with a heater and a strip and glue that can withstand high temperatures, but suddenly there was really a genuine fire. Just a few of the most hilarious moments.
1. Martien runs towards the workers to get sand.
‘Nous avons une feu, j’ai besoin du sable, sable!’ While Martien is shoveling sand, he is surprised at how smoothly it all came out and how amazing it is that he suddenly knew the French word for sand, sable. I must say: I thought that was great too.
2. Martien and Maxime are shoveling the burning logs out of the fireplace.
Both with long, fluttering scarves as big as a picnic blanket; I don't think that's very wise in itself when you're standing by a fiercely burning fire, but that's just a side note.
3. Sable, Maxime, sable
With every log that Martien pulls from the fireplace and throws into a tin bucket, he dramatically exclaims: ‘Sable, Maxime, sable!’ Martien suddenly seemed to be enjoying the French groove and seemed to forget that Maxime actually speaks Dutch.
4. Erica is sweet
While Maxime and Martien feared Erica's reaction a bit, she is understanding and naturally takes over when it all gets a bit too hot underfoot.
The fire goes out, the fire department suggests having the chimney swept, and all is well that ends well, to quote Shakespeare once again.
5. Girl before, girl after
In all the panic and stress, it remains a girl-fest of the highest order. Girl, where is the fire? Girl, what is the fire department's number? Girl, what stress. Girl, I could cry.
6. Martien's eyebrows
When all the misery is over and everyone looks each other deeply in the eyes, Maxime sees that Martien's bushy and so characteristic eyebrows have been burned away. And then Martien can cry a little, and I totally understand that.
